The United Nations General Assembly has unanimously elected Commission on Audit Chairman Guillermo N. Carague to an unprecedented six-year term as member of the powerful UN Board of Auditors, the body tasked with the audit of all UN offices, agencies, missions, funds and programmes in different countries worldwide.

Representing the Philippines and the Commission on Audit, Chairman Carague was elected by acclamation on November 2, 2001 at the UN Fifth (Finance) Committee meeting during the 56th Regular Session of the 178-member United Nations General Assembly held at the UN Headquarters in New York. His candidature was uncontested.

Mr. Carague is the current chairman of the UNBOA, the post he took over from his predecessor, following his appointment as COA Chair by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in February 2001.

With Chairman Carague’s UN victory, the Philippines will continue holding its UNBOA seat until June 30, 2008 or a total of nine years counted from July 1, 1999 when his predecessor was elected member of the UNBA for a three-year term (1999-2002).

Emerging from the Fifth Committee meeting session hall Chairman Carague said his election to the UNBA for a six-year term “will give the Philippines and the Commission on Audit a chance to produce more auditors of international caliber.”

“This is a very important and historic event we Filipinos can truly be proud of. We will be the first to serve the newly-implemented six-year term in the UNBOA and this is good for Filipino auditors,” he added.

Ambassador Felipe Mabilangan, along with Ambassador Enrique A. Manalo, Counsel-General Linglingay Lacanlale, Ms. Violeta David, Attache, NYPM-Candidatures; Ms. Rosario Aguinaldo and Mr. Bayani Sibug First Secretary and Attache respectively of the Fifth Committee; and COA-IAD OIC Gracia Severa B. Espiritu and Senior Executive Assistant Eric Cruz, again played key roles in the campaign for the new UNBOA term.

Commenting on the COA Chairman’s victory, Mr. Mabilangan said: “The qualifications of Chairman Carague made it possible for an unopposed bid. His outstanding resume was the main consideration in clinching the UN post. Another factor was that we campaigned early and applied the “prevent offense” strategy.”

Mabilangan added: “The victory of the Philippines is also a recognition by the international community and the world not only of the COA as a very able organization but also of the excellent reputation of Filipino auditors as among the best in the world.”

He said the Philippines and COA enjoy the stature of one of the best audit learning centers in Asia and the Pacific.

Mr. Rashid Alimov, Permanent Representative of the Tajikistan UN Mission, confirmed Ambassador Mabilangan’s statements saying that “The quality and competence of the Philippines’ state auditors have been tested, and the credentials and qualifications of Mr. Carague are very impressive and could only mean better service.”

Uzbekistan Ambassador Alisher Vohidov has this to say about Mr. Carague: “Your Chairman is very personable and approachable. We think we will work with him very well.”

United Kingdom’s Mr. David Woodward, a Director of the UNBOA, hailed Chairman Carague’s election saying: “With his exposure in public accounting and consulting, Chairman Guillermo Carague is the first financial management expert to become a member of the UN Board of Auditors.”

Singapore’s Ms. Tan See Woan commented that “The Philippines deserves to be re-elected because of its good performance and the new leadership can bring in the highest quality of professionalism.”

Syrian UN Mission Counsellor Mr. Fayssal Mekdad who proposed that the 51-nation Asian Group in the Fifth Committee endorse the Philippine candidature, told the Committee: “We support the candidature of the Philippines because of its excellent auditing performance.” His proposal was seconded by the delegate from Singapore.

The Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea, in its capacity as Chair of the Asian Group, then informed the UN Secretariat of the group’s decision in favor the Philippine candidature.

The Asian Group’s endorsement of the RP candidature created a bandwagon effect that drew the support of the regional leaders of UN-member countries and eventually paved the way for an uncontested RP bid for the first six-year term in the prestigious UN audit body.

During the Fifth Committee meeting at Conference Room No. 3 on November 2, 2001, Chairman Carague was at the gallery accompanied by Commissioner Emmanuel M. Dalman, Assistant Commissioner Emma M. Espina, Dir. Marietta SF Acorda, and Ms. Grace Banaria-Espiritu, Eric Cruz and Diony Abalos of the COA-International Audit Division in New York, and the COA UN Audit Teams.

After his proclamation as UNBOA member-elect by the Fifth Committee Chairman, Mr. Carague, Comm. Dalman and Eric Cruz met the delegates at the UN Delegates Lounge and thanked them for their support.

Afterwards, a luncheon was held in celebration of the RP victory at the Philippine Center in New York where Chairman Carague thanked the Philippine UN Mission and other officials who helped him win the coveted UN post.

The luncheon was attended by the officials and staff of the UN Mission, the Philippine Consulate in New York, RP Tourism Office, Trade Office, Philippine Center Management Board, COA-IAD and COA auditors conducting the UN Fall Audit .

Chairman Carague now seats as chairman of the UNBOA with the First President of the Court of Accounts of France and the Auditor General of the Republic of South Africa as members.

Mr. Carague’s present term as UNBOA chair will be up to December 31, 2001. The board chairmanship changes on a rotation basis every year. This means that he will have the chance to chair the UNBOA for two years during his six-year term (2002-2008).

As early as 1984, the Philippines Commission on Audit had held a seat in the UNBOA and stayed as member of the board for nine years until 1993.

Its first three-year term in the board was from 1984-1987, then from 1987-1990 and finally from 1990 to 1993. During the UNGA elections for these terms, COA successively emerged as winner over Bangladesh, Pakistan and Jordan.

Among the UN agencies under UNBOA’s audit jurisdiction are the International Court of Justice, World Food Council, UNDP, Population Fund, UN Institute of Training and Research, UN Peace-keeping and other Missions, Children’s Fund, International Drug Control Fund, the UN Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation and the UN Joint Staff  Pension Fund and other funds.

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